Two people were burnt to death beyond recognition at dawn on Thursday when the room in which they were sleeping was engulfed by fire at Malik, a suburb of Teshie in Accra.
The police identified those burnt as Joshua Agyapong, 40, a mechanic and Ester Okanta, in her 30s.
Their bodies have been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
The Teshie District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Samuel Tibil Punobyin, said police personnel on patrol duty at dawn, had a distress call of an outbreak of fire in a house at Malik, Teshie.
He said the police proceeded to the scene, but on arrival met personnel of the Fire Service there who managed to bring the fire under control. A search in the room revealed the charred bodies.
DSP Punobyin said preliminary investigations revealed that the two had been in a relationship for over eight years.
However, the families of the two (Agyapong and Esther) were against the relationship with the explanation that the two came from the same family lineage, which traditionally made it impossible for them to marry.
He said according to family sources, Agyapong was advised to stay off the relationship since it was an abomination.
Similarly, DSP Punobyin said, the lady was also advised to leave the relationship.
Besides, he said, the relationship did not produce any children.
DSP Punobyin said later, Agyapong told the parents that he had accepted their advice to quit the relationship and was even preparing documents to travel to Italy, which in its self, would bring an end to the relationship.
The district commander said not satisfied with the submission or advice from the respective families, Esther threatened that if Agyapong refused to marry her, something would happen.
DSP Punobyin said on Sunday, the two visited Agyapong�s father at Juapong in the Volta Region and on their return to Teshie, Agyapong had a call that a vehicle had broken down at a place outside Accra which he had to go and tow to Accra.
Agyapong returned the next day which was on Monday and this did not please Esther, who probably thought her fianc� had gone to sleep with another woman outside or was taking steps to desert her as the families suggested.
This resulted in a quarrel which DSP Punobyin said, extended to the next day when news of their death was reported.
He said no foul play was suspected but investigations were underway to establish the cause of their death.
He noted that investigations revealed that the room had no electrical connection, gas or any flammable item.
When contacted, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr. Billy Anaglatey, confirmed the incident saying fire personnel had the call at about 10:00 pm and proceeded to the scene where they managed to quench the fire.
He said fire personnel we conducting further investigations into the cause of the fire.
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